David Healy insists Linfield focus is on San Marino champs La Florita and not Celtic

The Blues could meet the Scottish champions if they get through

By Mark McIntosh

27th June 2017,10:53 pm

DAVID HEALY insists Linfield will not be fooled into dreaming about a money-spinning Champions League tie with Celtic.

The Blues boss went as far as to not even mention the ‘C’ word once during a press ­conference last night ahead of tonight’s first qualifying round first leg against San Marino champions La Fiorita.

Linfield manager David Healy

While the rest of the country has become obsessed with the potential second qualifying round against the Scottish champs, former Rangers striker Healy has made it clear he has no intentions of thinking about the Hoops unless his side can get through, starting with the first leg at Windsor Park.

Celtic decided against taking tickets for the possible clash on July 14 — and that was after the date was switched — but Healy will not entertain the thought of facing the Celts.

He said: “Our only focus is on the game at home to La Fiorita and the return leg next week.

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“We have done a little bit of ­homework on the San Marino side.

“They will be given the utmost respect because they are champions of their country as are we.

“They had a good season last time and so did we.

“It’s a game that we should relish, it’s a game we look forward to.

“It’s our first game coming off the back of winning the Irish Cup. Hopefully we can take the performance we had in the Cup final into this game.

“People asked the questions, ‘Can we handle the pressure?’ on Cup final day and I think we answered that.

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“But nothing will distract us. All we have been concentrating on is playing La Fiorita. That’s it.

“We know what the prize potentially is, whether it had been anyone else in the second round.

“The potential is there to get through the first round.

“Financially, in Europe, it has always been important so it doesn’t matter who the carrot is in the next round.

“We are fully focused on our job in the first leg and next Tuesday.”

Healy is clearly enjoying the craft of dodging any questions about Celtic and he is adamant his players will not get sucked into it either.

He added: “I don’t go into the dressing room. On the training pitch, we have talked about doing our job.

“And the San Marino champions is all we are talking about.

“Other people can talk about ­whatever — they wouldn’t be human if they didn’t talk about it to their mates or read papers but one thing we won’t do is disrespect La Fiorita.

“Other people are bringing up things they maybe shouldn’t bring up but sometimes that doesn’t surprise you in this country.”

Healy has only experienced two European games as a manager. The Blues crashed out of last season’s Europa League to Cork City but will now get his first taste of the competition they all want to be involved in.

Healy — who won a domestic treble in his first full season in charge of the Blues — added: “I can’t wait, I’m excited. I knew when we won the league the joys that come with it.

“I’ve watched and been involved in Champions League matches as a player. I’ve been in and around ­European football as a coach and I’ve seen what nights like this give. It’s another big night.

“Last year, it was new to me, the Europa stage.

“It was disappointing to go out against Cork but if you see where they were then and where they are now, you can see what a good side they are.

“They went on to prove that last year by getting into the third round of the Europa League and they are 15 points clear in their own league championship now.

“It wasn’t the draw we wanted last year but we went out because of two penalties.

“My experience as a player — I wasn’t good enough to play Champions League football consistently but these lads have two games to hopefully progress into the next round and give ­themselves another two games at it.

“People may think it is a team we should beat and hopefully that will be the case if we do our jobs ­professionally and have the quality to see ourselves into the next round.

“That’s our main task and that’s all we have talked about.

“No club has the divine right to progress past the first tie, though.

“The San Marino team will have thought the same as us when the draw was made that they had a chance. It’s a good opportunity for us to progress, but there is no divine right.”

Having faced the San Marino ­national side several times in his career, Healy (below) knows what to expect from their best side tonight.

He explained: “I played against San Marino home and away and one thing I’m sure La Fiorita will do — like their national team — is they won’t change whether they are 1-0 up or 3-0 down. They stick to what they are good at.

“I’m sure they have excellent coaches and they will be structured and organised. They had a wee bit of experience in the team and that won’t go unnoticed. I know they have dangerous players.”

The Blues will be without defender Jimmy Callacher, who misses both legs with La Fiorita, but Healy has no other injury concerns and summer signings Robert Garrett, Andrew Mitchell and Jordan Stewart are all available.